LOS ANGELES: US District Judge Margaret Morrow has issued a summary judgment throwing out former Fleishman-Hillard Los Angeles GM Doug Dowie's wrongful termination suit before it could go to trial.

Morrow wrote in her ruling that "no reasonable jury could conclude that [Fleishman] lacked good cause to terminate" Dowie, according to media reports.

Dowie was dismissed from the firm sometime around January 2005, almost a year after a grand jury first began its investigation. He filed a lawsuit at the end of March 2005.

"We have said from the day this lawsuit was filed that it was based on false allegations and had absolutely no merit," Richard Kline, regional president and senior partner, said in a statement. "We are pleased to put this matter behind us, and we will continue to focus on serving our clients."

Dowie has been convicted in criminal courts on 14 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy, along with John Stodder, a former SVP of public affairs, who was convicted of 11 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. They both await sentencing.